Pick-up vehicle body and method of handling goods



July 24, 192s.- 1,518,329

W. H. CLARKE El AL fICK-UP VEHICLE BODY AND METHOD OF HANDLING GOODS Filed July 27. 19g s Sheets-sheet 1 A TTORNEYS.

July 24;*"1928',

w.'H. CLARK; ETAL PICK-UP VEHICLE BODY AND ME'I'HOD- 0F HANDLING GOODS Filed( July 27. 1921 3 Sheets-She??I 3 INVENTORS )f7/iam ff. /ar/e and ATTORNEYS'mx Byron G'.` COOK,

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Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES rwww PATENT oFF-lcs.

` WILLIAM H. cLnRHE-'AND BYRON G. cooK, oF LAKEWOOD, oHIo.

' rIeH-Ur VEHICLE BODY AND METHOD or HANDLING GooDs.-

Application led Julyy 27,

`This invention relates to a pick-up vehicle body and a method `of handling articles by truck. More particularly it sets forth a combined truck and remove ble body and the means for and method of releasing said body and returning the same to position.

In t-ruckfbodies of the removable type as heretofore designed, diiiiculty hasbeen er:- perienced in handling the same without a specially prepared platform or some similar facility for receiving the removable body as it leaves the truck chassis. Frequently elabcrate special stations are providethferr cer tain types of removable bodies, kequipped with cranes, tracks `and similar appliances for handling said bodies.

\ The object of our invention is toprovide 'a removable truck body which can be deposited wherever desired, particularly upon any kind of broken or muddy ground that the truck itself can travelmov'er, and to provide they chassis with self-contained `meansfor transferring the body from its position on the ground to a position onthe truclr chassis for` transportation," and for transferring the `body fromthe truck chassis to the ground may be nestedv and-transported at one time.

To the accomplishmentv of the :foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed `out in the claims.

. The annexed drawings and the'following description Aset forth in detail certain mechvclosed means constituting, however, but`one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of kmy invention may be used. Y

In said annexed drawings :,Fig. l is a view in side elevation showing the pin column and sub-frame applied to `a truck; Fig. Q'isa rear elevation of the pin column; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rearward portion of the constructionillustrated `in Fig. l; Fig. 4C is a top plan View of the parts shown inFig. l; Fig. 5 is a planvviewof the removable body, a portion of the iioor thereofbeing Vremoved to show the supporting members; Fig. 6 isv a side elevation of the removable body, parts thereof being shown in section; Fig. l is a cross section of the `removable body in position upon the sub-frame with the latter supported in lowered position upon'the main frame of the truck; Fig. l8 is an end elevationof the removable body; Fig. 9 is la ,diagrammatic side elevation showing a modified construction wherein the pin column and'sub-frame are dispensed with: and Fig. l0 is a plan view showing the lwinch kutilized with the modified construction.

In'said annexed drawings `as shown,par, ticularly in F ig. lthereof, thetruck l has a main frame @which is` providedwith a sub-frame 3 connected therewith bymeans of a pivot 4,.adj acent itsrear end. The subframe f extends forwardly from its-pivot ypoint to a position in baclr of the drivers seat at which point a pin column `5 is pivotal- :ly mounted on the truclrframe, said pin column supporting fiexible elements for changing the position of the sub-frame 'in a manner to be hereinafter described.y y

The truck frame 2 maybe provided with a' series of transverse bracing, and supporting members 6 and blocks 7, preferably of wood, may be secured to the upperr side thereof. A series of channel irons are fastened tothe under side of the sub-frame in vposition to register over. said blocks when the sub-frameis in lowered position. The sides 9 ofthe sub-frameare preferably formed of angle iron members with their base portions turned inwardly and are rigidly braced by a series of transverse members 1l, above which, vbymeans of suitable brackets 12, `a D h f series of rollers 13, are rotatablysupported anism embodying the invention, such dis-- cated `preferably'at positions above andin alignment with the subfraine cross niembers heretofore referred to in order tosecure lgreater rigidity without undue weight of material.

The` pivot for .attaching the sub-frame to the body is preferably formed of a shaft journaled in a pair of special metal brackets 14 secured to the respective frames.

Centrally of the end member, 15, of the sheave therein is carried at the upper end of said bracket in a position'tocooperate with the removable body to be carried on the sub-frame of the truck, in a manner hereinafter to be described. The roller sheave carries a central groove 19` to receive the flex` ible element for vthe handling of the remov-V able body, and the edges 21 of the sheave are rounded, a cross section thereof presenting an elliptical contour. l

A sheave wheel 22 of the character justr described is also mounted at the upper end of the pin column. The pin columnas shown in Fig. 2, is preferably formed of two' side members 23 inclined upwardly toward each other and having their extreme upper ends 24, in spaced parallel relation. A cross plate 25 serves to hold said members in rigid relation. Adjacent the position of said sheavenear the upper end of the pin column (see Fig. 2), a shaft 26 carrying a pair of sub-frame hooks 27 is journaled, said shaft having a hand lever 28 at one end and a spring connection lever 29 at the other end with which co-acts a coiled spring 31 'attached to the frame and serving to hold the sub-frame hooks in either engaging' or disengaged positions (see Figs. 1 and 2).k The upper end of the pin column, as shown in Fig. 1, is angular-ly related to its main body portion so that when the sub-frame is in lowered position the main body portion of the pin column is vertically disposed, but when the sub-frame is raised to its topmost position, the angular portion thereof'isfiny approximately a vertical position, While the lower portion inclines toward the rear of the trurk. y

A locking'device,for the removable body, is provided at the forward end of the subfraine and comprises a pair of stophooks v 32 on opposite sides of the upper portion of the sub-frame, having their rearwardlyI extended nose portions 33 spaced from theupper surface of the sub-frame so as to permit the passa-ge of angle body lock brackets hereinafter to be described. Upon each stop hook a latch 34 is pivotally mounted, having an upwardly extending ear 35 to which is attached a link 3G connected with acrankarm 37 mounted on a shaft 38 extending across the sub-frame.y The latch shaft carries a spring lever 39, to the free endof which a coil spring 41, secured at its other end of the frame is attached. A U-bolt 40 isv centrally secured to the forward end of the sub-frame (see Fig. 4) to serve as a point of.

terasse attachment for the liexible element, whereby the sub-frame may be elevated in exactly the manner illustrated in' Fig. 1,'excepting that the cable is directly attached to the sub-v frame Linstead of to a removable body latched to thesub-fraine. v y

,The pin column as stated, is pivotally mounted onthe truck 'frame by means of a shaft. Upon' said shaft an yidler slieave wheel 42 is rotatably mounted a pair of tubular spacing sleeves43 being associated therewith. The flexible element for handling the removable body is designed to engage the grooves ofthe respective sheavel wheels and yto be taken'up upon a windlass 60 of standard character, `preferably a power winch operated from the power transmission means of the truck.,l i A j n The removable body. 51 which has been foundmost suitable A.for usein conjunction with truck construction ust described, is one jacent tothe upper sides of the runners `and Athe outer ends kthereof,areprovided with stake-pockets 56. Vedge pieces 57 maybe n positioned adjacent the .outer ends .of ythe sill-channels for ksupporting the flooring` 58 at a slight inclination at the marginal portions'of the removabiebody. At the ends of the removable body, end pieces v61, of heavy material are secured, stake pockets being also provided therein at suitably spaced intervals.

Upon the outer side of each of the said end pieces, a nose pier-c62 is secured, said nose piece, as shown in Fig. 8, comprising ya bracket element 63 formed with a concave groove 64 on its forward and under side of a size suitable to receive and engage the rollers upon the'truck and to receive and position the flexible element for'V handling said" body, when' the 4saine is secured to tow rod or loop 6o, secured tothe structure immediately atthe rearof said nose piece. Thenose piece f and tow rod may be applied to only one end of the. removable body whenno occasion for handling said body in reversed position 'is in view.'

From the foregoingdescription itis bel lievedthe operation of this apparatus will be readily apparent.. `When it is desired to unload from the truck the removable body rwithits cargo of material, the flexible ele-` ment from the winch, which is normally vmaintained inconnection with the loop at the forward end of thefreniovable body lfrom Cil the time 'of placing the same upon thetruck, is actuated kthrough the power' plant and winch. This elevates the end of the subframe adjacent the drivers seat or cab. As the sub-frame rises the ypin column will swing from a perpendicular position to one inclined toward the rear.y of the truck. When the sub-frame has reached a position adjacent the top of the pin column, the latch shaft is operated by means of a lever and the hooks thereon lengage the end member of the sub-frame and securely hold the same against the tendency to return to its original posi` tion. By lifting of sub-frame latch lever 34 and releasing the drum G0 (see Fig. l), the removable body will by force ofgravity slide down the inclined sub-frame until its rearward end strikes the ground at a gentle inoline. By 4driving the truck forward at this time and controlling the action of the drum, the forward lend of the removable body may be gradually lowered to the ground `without injury to the contents of such body. The cooperation of the flexible element with the nose piece and the grooves in the roller shafts, insures the proper positioning of the lparts during the operation described.

Vhen it is desired to load a removable body on a truck, the operation just described is reversed. The sub-frame if not already in raised position, may first be lifted to proper latched position by means of the fiexible element engaged through the U-bolt 40, as heretofore described. (See Figs. l and a.) This element is-thereafter attached to the tow rod loop upon the forward end of the removable body, and, by means of this element, being guided through the channeled nose piece and grooved sheave wheels, when tension is applied to the fieXible element, the parts will be properly lined up without particular attention being i given to the exact alinement of the truck and body prior to commencing the loading operation.y

In the event that the removable body is upon rough ground and at an extreme angle to the truck body proper, it may be found desirable to drive the truck a short distance towing the removable body which is then drawn into line with the truck body and is ready kfor the operation of raising itto a position upon the sub-frame. After 'the drawing-in operation is completed, the body locking brackets 5a thereon are positioned beneath the stop hooks 32, and engaged by the end latches 34 on thesides of the subframe and are securely held against dislodgement. The latch on the pin column is then actuated to release the sub-frame and upon the general releasing of the windlass, the sub-frame may be gradually lowered to its position upon the truck frame proper.

In the modified form of construction illustrated in Figs. 9 an-d 10 of the drawing, the sub-frame is dispensed with `and the body is loaded upon and unloaded` from the5main jframeof the truck bymean'sof aypair [of flexible elements, 7l, 72, carried upon a pair of drums 73, 74, ofa power winch 75,?and y adapted to engage the roller sheaveI 1T, from above and below, respectively, asthe body is moved on andoff the truck; 'lfherwinch is actuated through a clutch and transmission 76 of standard type from a power takeoff 77 on the power transmission mechanism of the truck. Each drum is provided with a friction plate 78 to prevent overrunning when it is operating idly, that is to say, the plate acts as a brake to prevent faster linear travel of a point on the circumference of the drum than the rate of outward travel of the cable.

A guide pulley 79, mounted beneath the roller sheave 17, at the end of the main frame of the truck, serves to maintain the flexible element 72, in position to engage said sheave as the body is drawn upon the truck, the clutch mechanism of the winch being shifted during this operation.

The removable body used with the modified type of construct-ion is preferably equipped with a U-bolt 81 in place of the tow rod loop 65 ordinarily provided as the point of attachment for the fiexible elements. f

Other modes of applying the principle of said truck, hoisting and positioning. said body section, from any angle relatively to said truck from the ground level, upon said truck by a single continuous load lifting operation, transporting said freight to the point of delivery, releasing and unloading said body section from the truck through a single continuous load lifting operation, and unloading the freight from the body section.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a motor truck, a removable body for said truck adapted to be deposited-upon and hoisted from the ground, coacting guiding elements mounted respectively upon said truck and body along a central longitudinal line thereof, and a flexible element co-acting with said guiding elements for hoisting and positioning said body upon said truck.

3. A removable vehicle body comprising a platform, a pair of runners secured to said platform and a Combined cable guide and Sheave engaging nose piece mounted cen- 5 trally of the end of said body.

4:. A removable Vehicle body comprising a pair of runners, secured to said platform, a f

nose piece mounted centrally of the end of said body,vand.a cable attaching loop mount- 10 ed on the underside of said body adjacent and in alinement With said guide and slieave y engaging nose piece.

Signed by us this 6th day of July, 1921. WLLIAM H. CLARKE.

BYRON G. COOK. 

